Impallaria Joins GOP Primary to Challenge Ruppersberger

Add one last name—Del. Rick Impallaria—to the list of Republicans seeking to challenge Democratic Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger in November.

Impallaria filed for the office Wednesday just prior to the 8 p.m. filing deadline.

"I decided yesterday and filed right after I walked off the floor," Impallaria said on Thursday. "It was something I talked to a lot of people about."

Impallaria is the fifth Republican to seek the opportunity to challenge Ruppersberger, who was elected in 2002. Other notable challengers include Harford County Republican Sen. Nancy Jacobs and Larry Smith, a Timonium resident and an aide to Republican Rep. Andy Harris.

Impallaria and Jacobs do have  history. Several State House insiders said Impallaria carries a grudge against Jacobs because he believes she was responsible for killing a towing bill in the 2011 session.

Del. Pat McDonough, Impallaria's district mate, criticized Jacobs as being a ".

Impallaria declined to say whether or not he subscribed to McDonough's theory.

"I'm going to run on the issues and not on personal attacks," said Impallaria.

One of those issues is similar to one Jacobs noted in her announcement last week—Senate Bill 509, the controversial 2000 state law that would have expanded condemnation powers for Baltimore County Government.

Ruppersberger, as county executive at the time, asked the state legislature for the power to condemn a specific list of properties in Essex, Dundalk and along Liberty Road and turn them over to developers to be redeveloped.

"I have a history with Dutch and the 509 issue," said Impallaria, who's auto body shop was located on some Middle River waterfront and specifically targeted in the condemnation law.

The bill passed the legislature but was overwhelmingly defeated at the ballot box in 2000.